Monday, January 31, 2011

For pretty much three years we have downright ignored the upstairs, figuring who is seeing it but us. Then for my birthday (october) i bought the paint, hoping the boyfriend would paint it as my gift. He didn't. For Xmas, he got me a wall mounted mirror/jewelry holder which was not being hung til we painted. So we (he) painted. Now my bedroom is the restful, relaxing space i always knew it could be.

The paint is Tinsmith, by Sherwin Williams....it is a wonderful gray/blue that really changes with the light. It is a color chameleon, which is why you will now have Boy George stuck in your head. Sorry 'bout that!

I love the gold shimmer geometric pattern in the curtains.

This is probably the truest shot of the color.

The carpet that is staying-at first i brought out the maroons and golds, but after seeing so many retreat like bedrooms via blogs, i wondered if i couldn't bring out the blues instead. I think it works.

That's the catalyst for the painting, that mirror. Killing two birds with one stone, it houses my dangly necklaces and allows me to see them all nicely (without worrying my cat is eating all the beads) and of course it provides a full length mirror. This is a CSN buy, with no code or no winnings, and i have to say it is sturdy and gorgeous. They also price matched it with no problem because i found it cheaper somewhere else. I like my little art corner highlighting free vase.

You can see the difference in color from these pics above and below...the top one looker grayer, and the bottom bluer. Chameleon like. Yard sale bird pillows pair maroon and blue.

Ha, this picture is so me. I like "the finer things" sometimes, and the arts, but then i kick it in my Vans.

Pretty calming to the eye After/ Harsh and jarring Before

The cream and gold furniture looks even worse against the painted wall, but bedroom sets are expensive, you guys! Where have you gotten yours? It's funny to see how our tastes change with the influence of others, don't you think??

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Dear my drive into work,
You royally sucked. Nothing was plowed, cars couldn't make it over the smallest hills, i had to take a circuitous (Matt!) route to the office instead of my usual straight shot since it meant hills. Schools round this way were closed, and my office had nary a delay. This is unusual because we have delays like it's nobody's business. Now, if we were let out early, i don't even WANT to venture back out there. It's THAT bad. It's supposed to stop at noon, and then hit heavy again at 2, and i'm sure we will be let go then. Your roads better be plowed by then and i better have an easy ride home.

Dear new houseplant,
Yesterday i bought you from Trader Joe's because Better Homes and Garden'ssuggested a lively houseplant such as a snake plant to spring things up. Apparently you're also known as Mother in Law's tongue....wtf does that mean? I'll tell you what it means, it means now i don't like you since i have to think of you know who! I wish i could un-know that.

Dear snow,
I have to trek to our courthouse in your nastiness to renew my passport. I got all gussied up, hair was looking good, ready for that picture that will last 10 more years....thank you. i appreciate that you flattened my hair while i cleared my car off from you, and thank you in advance for ruining it worse on my walk over. If i fall and look like a jerk on my way over, you and i are gonna have a problem.

Monday, January 24, 2011

You can't possibly think there'd be anything called a Pet Party and i wouldn't participate! The fabulous Debbie is having a linky party to share and show off our furry friends and my little gray girl is very show off-able!

Early on in this blog's life i wrote how this little girl became ours, in a post titled Feeling Lucky on aSunday. It's perhaps the sappiest i've gotten on here, but she somehow just brings it out in me.

Upon posting today's pictures, i got all Animal Planet and started narrating with a British accent. "Notice how the lithe gray cat sets her gaze upon her maroon prey from a distance, sizing up her method of attack...

She coyly saunters closer, in complete fake out mode, giving the mouse one last moment of false hope...

She's there! That mighty stare announcing this mouse is hers, and hers alone!'

You can enjoy fantabulous pictures of my sweet girl-she happens to be very photogenic-under the search label Sunday. And if you want to see some more pets, like her sweet little pug, please stop by Debbie's pet partay!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Have you heard about this business with astrological signs changing? It seems this ideology has been around for 3000 years, but we are only really hearing about it this week. It's all well and good for most people, like my friend who has "leo" tattooed on her in runes-her sign is still the leo. But what about me?! I'm a Libra through and through...but now i'm a Virgo? What the flippin' F?! What about my obsession with this?!

Now, before you go and get laser removal for your body art, the addendum is that this chart is used by astronomers, not astrologers. But still-why you gotta go and mess with a sure thing? A thing that helps people define themselves? A thing that people have felt connected to? And how many "sure things" are there out there, anyway. Guess now there's one less.

So, does this change things for you? Do you plan to stick with the sign you've always been? Or are you off to see what your "new" sign means? It's also going around that this is only relevant for people born after 2009, but i'm seeing conflicting stories.

Also, I am fully aware there's been a lot of random posts (still fun, right?!) because in the middle of uploading pics for my bedroom reveal, i got the dreaded "you have reached your free photo limit" alert. And then it proceeded to lose the whole post. So. I haven't reuploaded them yet, and you're stuck with random musings! Blogging ain't easy, fo' sho'.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Not to like, tears, though there are plenty of those. I mean literally moves me, makes me want to move. Today i am joining Musical Monday at Throwing Paint, and the theme is music that you exercise to or makes you want to move your body. In other words, music that makes you shake that thang!

I don't know why, but any sort of workout mix i have made consists of music i normally don't listen to. The same with driving on a sunny, warm day- the sunroof is open, the windows are down, and i've got my "Badass Rap Mix" blastin' from my speakers. A guilty pleasure, if you will. I become a rap lovin', shoulder shruggin', lip pursin', DIVA!

Let's Get it Started-Black Eyed Peas
One Last Time-Eminem, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre
Hit 'Em Up Style-Blu Cantrell

Melanie at The Tiny Tudor and Erin at Where Beauty Meets Function gave me the stylish blogger award...thanks so much, ladies. You can all add my guilty pleasure music to one more thing you know about me. But please, keep it on the DL-I've got a sensitive, Morrissey lovin' rep to protect.

Ok, so what music makes you want to become a rump shaker (surely you remember that song?) or at the very least a hip swiveller? Do tell!

Friday, January 14, 2011

I like to combine words, and i can't help but think of the grey poupon commercial, and how grey poupon combined could be groupon. Now i've written poupon and groupon so many times they look weird, like they're spelled wrong.

So you've heard of Groupon? They have daily deals and steals that are only available until they're not...the deal will say 90% claimed, for example, so you know you better move quick. They highlight activities, restaurants, salons, and other fun events. S just surprised me with a one hour jewelry making class in Philadelphia that was the deal of the day for half off.

You buy it when it's on sale (daily deal) but you don't have to use it that day (it will tell you when it's good til-the jewelry class is good til Jan 2012). I bought the daily deal when it was $1 for 3 Redbox codes. I had to buy it that day for the dollar, but i have until March to use my 3 codes. Make sense? And it works, of course-i've already used 2 of my Redbox codes with no problem.

I wanted to share the goods with you, my friends, and i'm not gonna lie. My referral link earns me groupon bucks when you sign up (free) and purchase something (practically free). But so what? I think when you find amazing deals and steals, you need to pass those along. I'd love to know, have you ever bought fromGroupon? What was your amazing deal?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

You see what i did there? Jives, not Dives? Because my basement will not be a dive. I hope. It will, however, be decorated like a drive in/diner, complete with theatre screen that will drop down like magic from the ceiling. Right now we are nowhere near that level of decorating, or bar building. Or, you know, a ceiling from which to drop the screen. We're at the "figure out the wiring and outlets prior to drywalling" phase. So you get the idea. Months to go. Here are some inspiration pics with the colors and retro theme i'm going for. So sorry that i don't know where most of these images came from, i wasn't blogging then. Just stalking and saving. Please let me know if you know so i can properly credit!

Sigh, these are the colors i want to do spot on. Red, turquoise, black and white. We already have 4 red retro bar stools that came with the house and probably need to be rechromed. For additional seating at the bar, we're thinking a little two seater along this table's vibe. How do you feel about a turquoise wall? (i know this image is a blog find)

Our black and white tiles will be going on the floor a la angled checkerboard in the bar area. In the lounging area, i will bring in the black with frames around my tin signs, and the chrome with the fireplace (hopefully). I don't know about seating...red couch with turquoise cushions, and a neutral wall color? Continue with the turquoise wall color, do a neutral couch, and red pillows? i need to figure out how to do a mood board or something. (retroplanet.com)

Is this bar not gorgeous!?! Can't get much more retro than that! We will not be having the tv there, we will be having a mirror like the image below, but with the sundae and soda shop looking glasses flanking it on either side. It pained us to seal up a window, but there was no point in replacing it or worrying about water getting in. They're your typical tiny basement windows, anyway, so we wouldn't be missing much light. Plus we're putting in a sliding door where the old garage door was, and that will bring light. (sheetmetalartcreations.com)

We're going to be building the bar, and i like the rounded edge to this. To keep it classy, we are probably going to do black granite, but it needs to have this chrome wraparound edge to maintain the diner vibe. What i want it some sort of conglomeration of this and the blue bar b/c we have the space for it.

I already have a Beatles poster, and there's the neutral in the curtains. Proof i am not making this color scheme up! (Casa Moxie)

I like this image for the colors and the props. We have a retro inspired popcorn machine, much wall decor with popcorn and burgers, and fries, and reels, oh my. Old school looking pendant lights and framed movie posters. We have this strange desire for an old gas station pump as well. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but we are super excited for the day this becomes a reality.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

I wonder why i continue to buy cat nip scented items and things that roll for a cat that needs nothing more than cardboard boxes to amuse herself with. Today, as i visit my step pop-pop at hospice and worry over my great-uncle's surgery, i need to focus on the little things that bring me joy. And that is this cat.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Looky here! Ain't they ca-ute?! I was doing some post Xmas clearance shopping at Boscov's and discovered a random set of dishes in with the cards, ornaments, and wreaths. No price on them. Whatever, i'll lug them around because i like to make things hard for myself. Get them to the register and this set of 12 dishes rings up at 4.99. Say what? It made paying the same price for a package of greeting cards seem ridiculously overpriced.

I wish the colors were as subdued as the box makes you think (that's why i bought them-serves me right for not prying a dish out in store) but they're still super cute and seasonal. As i write this, i remember the pinecone napkin rings purchased this afternoon from Bed, Bath, and Beyond's clearance section. I smell a tablescape coming on! And it smells mighty pine! Also, someone needs to stop shopping...

Sunday, January 2, 2011

1. Painted the master bedroom and brought it to its final phase of looking good-ness. Pictures to come.
2. Swapped out the saggy bed in the guest room for one that you can plop down on without practically hitting the floor. For free.
3. Framed the walls and installed the plumbing for the basement half bath.
4. Ordered a new fridge, which should be in next weekend. SO excited for this-our fridge (that came with the house) is old and skeeves me out. Pictures to come.
5. S registered me for my very own URL...should i choose to buy it. Revamping the blog is one of my goals for the year, so this was a nice gesture. A real blog should look more professional, so photo editing, time consuming task that it will be, may be in my future.

Yep, i'm feeling rather productive these past few days. What about you? Get the ball rolling on those resolutions yet?